Ocean’s 12 | Consistently Cinematic - 47/365

Plot****

Cinematography*****

Score/Soundtrack****

Character Development**

Timelessness***

Originality***

The Pitch

11 thieves are forced to team back up after the man they robbed 2 years prior hunts them down. The only thing crazier than how he found them is the game they have to play to save their lives. 

The Gist

Danny Ocean(Clooney) and his second in command, Rusty(Pitt) find themselves reunited with all of their old gang, but not on their accord. Two weeks earlier, Terry Benedict(Garcia) got a call from someone who knew the location of each member of Ocean’s 12, the crew that robbed his casino. The kind stranger's only request was that they get two weeks to buy themselves out of trouble after Benedict puts them on alert. When Ocean meets the man behind all of it, he realizes they're connected by more than their proffession and unfortunately, has no choice but to play his game.

The Breakdown

To this day, I don’t understand why this movie got such a bad rap. I remember seeing it as it a kid and understanding enough to keep but still being impressed by the style it had. Like most European films, there was a moving portrait feel to the bulk of the shots. Low exposure and slow zooms allowed the movie to be an ode to that style of shooting while still being satirical. And that’s what I don’t understand: it was a joke of a movie but most people’s plight was that it was too hard to follow. 

Granted, Ocean’s 11 was a little more serious but this film felt like it was meant to be a handshake between Eastern and Western cinema styles. Stepping even further away from anything scholarly, it was a harmless movie with decent acting and a simple-stupid plot. I really just did this review to get my shit off but I think from a cinematic standpoint, this is the best film in a franchise that isn’t nod-worthy for anything apart from it’s casting. One of the few films you could watch without words and still appreciate it, I hope Ocean’s 12 ages like wine…because everyone I’ve talked to low-key hated it.